I stared out of the window of our silver Volvo into the dark clouds of rain and overcast weather. After me, mum and dad's recent trip to South America for one year to visit Zafrina I had got used to the sun and summer rain in the Tropics of the Amazon but now it was time to come back. Back to Aunty Alice and Uncle Jasper, Aunty Rose and Uncle Emmett, Grandpa Carlisle and Grandma Esme and Uncle Charlie but most importantly Jacob.
There wasn't a day that went by when I didn't think of him, my best friend. He was a few years older than me although now we would look roughly the same age apart from his mammoth height. He was like my brother but even better because he wasn't a vampire, he didn't try to understand when I complained of what I was, he just did. He taught me not to be ashamed of myself and I could tell him anything.
But that was a year ago, when I was 12 and a kid. This year I've had a huge growth spurt , a reason to believe I'm going to stop growing soon as dad says, and I'm about 16. A year has changed my perspective on things. I'm no longer content with just going shopping with Alice or getting makeovers from Rosalie or playing games with Jasper and Emmett. I have everything and yet I want so much more. But don't get me wrong I still enjoy the pampering, even from Alice.
It occurred to me on the last day of our trip, when mum and dad were hunting while Zafrina was braiding my fringe into a small section of my hair.
"So this is goodbye little one? But not forever no!" she smiled.
"I will come back soon I promise."
"You have grown so beautiful Renesmee, like a flower, you are just starting to blossom," she said sweetly holding my face in her hands, "Life is a most precious gift but it is nothing if it is not shared."
"What do you mean?"
"My most vivid memory from my old life; my mother when she was dying told me something. She said life is dance, my daughter. It requires a leap of faith, the hope of success and belief in oneself. You need a teacher, someone to guide you but most of all you need an audience, someone to share it with. Do you understand? Your life will be a long one darling but fill it with joy!"
She continued to braid my hair until my fringe and a small side section was plaited among my curls.
I was brought back to the present as I traced the curves of the braid.
"What are you thinking darling? Looking forward seeing Jake?" mum asked from the front seat. I nodded a yes and turned my stare to outside. In a few more hours we would be reunited with our family and no doubt Alice would hijack me to give me a new makeover or show me the new wardrobe of clothes she had bought over a year.
"How long will it be until we get home?"
"A few minutes darling," he said as I took a peek at the speedometer.
"Are you sure there aren't any speed cameras, dad?" I said horrified as I saw the rising indicator.
"I'm positive," he chuckled.
We were approaching Forks now and he started slowing down as we passed through the town and got closer and closer to home. As we neared to the house I started getting excited until we finally pulled up into the drive. I could smell them from a mile away and as we turned on the lights and they jumped out and screamed SURPRISE I acted shocked to see them. I was still a little girl in their eyes.
I ran and hugged them all at once and kept nodding and smiling as they commented on how grown up I was. I left the family to say hello to mum and dad and peeked through the hallway to find Jacob.
"Ness?" a deep voice called.
I turned to see him, a bit shorter than I had expected but still a staggering 6ft something.
"Jake?" His dark eyes sparkled and lured me closer until I couldn't resist anymore. I ran as fast as I could and he was ready to catch me in his arms as I jumped to give him a huge hug.
"Oh my gosh... I've missed you so much!" I whispered my voice starting to crack.
"It seems like it's been a lifetime," he whispered back before giving me a tight squeeze and putting me back down, "You've gotten so beautiful." He traced my hair along the braid before caressing my face lightly.
"How much have you grown!" He dropped his arm.
"Um I've had a bit of a growth spurt," I said sarcastically.
"A bit! You must be at least 15 now."
"Dad reckons about 16 actually."
I heard a cough from behind me from Jasper that muffled something Jake mumbled. It sounded like something along the words of "Finally".
Finally I was sixteen?
As I predicted Alice greeted mum and I with a welcome home present: a brand new wardrobe. I accepted the gift with an excited smile and hug while mum moaned.
"Alice I thought I told you! No more clothes!" she whined.
"Come on Bella! Just because I can play Nessie Barbie doesn't mean I want to stop playing Bella Barbie!" Alice replied.
"Why don't we play Alice Barbie for once?" mum said as she threw a bag of clothes at Alice. I giggled as Alice picked up a pair of black stilettos and pegged them at mum as she dived for underneath the bed. She picked up the shoes and was pretending to aim for Alice and instead hit me on the arse.
"Owww!" I yelped as the heel hit me, "That's it! You're done!"
I picked up about 6 tea light candles from on the dressing table and ran around the room towards the door as I threw them at Alice and Mum, hitting them on the head. Unexpectedly Alice threw scarf in my direction and I laughed at her idea of revenge. A scarf? Please! But she must of seen me trip over it because seconds later it made me slide right into Jacob's arms.
"Whoops!" I yelped again.
"Here's Ken!" Alice laughed.
His strong hands gripped my arms and picked me up in a fireman's carry.
"I heard a lot of banging and thought they might have been hungry," Jacob laughed but a part of me thought he might have been a little worried. He held me a little longer than necessary and then set me down again.
"Well I'm getting a bit tired and I should go but can we do something tomorrow?" he asked politely.
"Sure, what time?"
"Why don't you stay the night Jacob? I'll go set up the bed in Nessie's room!" Alice chirped as she ran out of Mum's wardrobe.
"Umm okay?" he called after her.
"Well I guess that's settled. How about I make you something to eat? I bet your starving!"
Before he could answer I grabbed his hand and pulled him down the stairs to the kitchen and opened the fridge.
"You have Honey Baked Ham! And capsicum!" He went to grab a handful of food from the shelves before I stopped him.
"Na-Uh I'm making you dinner. It is the least I can do. I'm thinking a gourmet super sized omelette!" I pushed him back into a chair and started warming up the pan.
"Mmm sounds good. So what did you get up to in the Amazon? There wasn't some monkey man that swept you off your feet?" he asked as I poured the egg into the pan.
"Monkey man? No. We just hung out with Zafrina's coven and she taught me some cool stuff."
"Like what?"
"Like how make cool stuff out of reeds and things and cultural rituals but mostly she taught me things about myself."
"Like what?" It was getting harder to dodge his questions.
"Random things. So what did you around here? Did you finally imprint on Leah?" I said this with a laugh but he didn't find it funny.
"Yeah and now she's pregnant with our third child." I was enjoying this game.
"How could you move on so fast? I thought we had something special!" I acted hurt and it seemed to work. His eyes sparkled with happiness and his mouth dropped open. Was he happy?
I quickly brushed it off with a laugh and tried to flip the omelette onto a plate.
"I'm such a good actress!"
"Yeah you should go to Hollywood and then I wouldn't have to see you as much," he said shoving half the omelette in his mouth.
"What? You know you love me." As soon as I said that I regretted it.
With good reason.
He replied with, "Yeah I know."